2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class User Reviews

Pros

Smooth comfortable ride. Competitively priced relative to other similar German sedans in this class.

Cons

Engine could be slightly more powerful.

Purchased As New

I bought this sedan after extensively test driving most of the small sports sedans in this class. The A4 didn't feel any better than other lesser priced cars and the steering felt too light to me. The 2013 BMW 328i had the best engine with lots of power although the engine sound was rough and unbefitting of a BMW. The base model had uncomfortable seats and moderate handling capabilities although this new model has the best interior room of them all. The car felt light and tin-like though and felt much less substantial than previous BMWs that I've owned. I drove the base model for an entire weekend as I had a loaner and the gas consumption was excellent! I averaged about 24 miles per gallon in mixed surface/freeway use with a relatively heavy foot on the accelerator. However, due to the drawbacks mentioned above, I almost wrote off the 328i completely until I test drove a sport line model with sport seats and 18inch wheels at the urging of the dealer. Boy! The difference was immediately apparent with much more comfortable seating and much better handling. However, the price then ballooned to almost 50k with the options that I was looking at! I then drove the MB 250 sport. The ride was comfortable and the handling was good(although not as good as the 328i with sport package). The engine sounded more refined without the rough clatter of the BMW although there is definitely engine lag if the RPM of the engine is less than 2000. The engine is also not as fuel efficient as the BMW as I'm averaging about 3-4 miles a gallon less with predominantly surface street driving. The Benz also has a very solid feel to the doors and the car overall feels more solid than the other two. The interior amenities are great with a great HK surround sound system and keyless go. The main reason that I chose this car over the BMW was the price. I was able to get a similarly equipped Benz for 14k less than the BMW! That alone makes up for the less efficient gas consumption. I've found that the smaller engine is strong enough for 90% of my normal driving and I'm happy with the handling. So far, I am happy with my decision. We'll see about reliability, etc down the road. As a final cherry on the cake, my insurance premium dropped by 20% with this new car compared to my last BMW!